The country might face a shortage of rice in the coming weeks. In question, the vagaries of the weather in India and Pakistan but also the low production of French rice. In the Camargue, the main rice-growing region, production areas are decreasing year following year
“In a context of probable global shortage, it would be interesting to revalue French production”, suggests François Clément, director of the French rice centre.
Because if the weather in Asia and the Russian-Ukrainian war threaten the world market, France is armed to face this crisis. Only, on the territory, rice cultivation has been idling for several years now.
The French rice sector suffers from three major handicaps: low visibility to begin with. This small sector is much less represented than that of durum wheat or corn, for example.
A limited budget, then. The last CAP (Common Agricultural Policy) in 2021 considerably reduced the envelope allocated to the rice sector in France. By way of comparison, France benefits from 120 euros per hectare of rice cultivation, Italy receives 300 euros per hectare, more than double.
Finally, extremely strict production rules, as explained by François Clément.
“In France, in terms of rice growing, we are far from being treated on an equal footing with other European countries; the regulations are different. Unlike Italy, for example, we do not have the right to use phytosanitary solutions, so we produce in less quantity”.
Especially since the French are not big consumers. About 4.5 tonnes per capita per year.
The Camargue has 20,000 hectares of rice-growing area, and can produce 40% of French consumption. Today, the region only farms 10,600 hectares, and produces 20% of consumption.
In this context, it is difficult for professionals in the sector to look to the future calmly. Jacques Rozière, a rice farmer in the Camargue, had no choice but to switch to market gardening two years ago.
“I did not do it with a light heart”, he confides. “In my family, we are rice farmers from generation to generation. But there I might no longer live off it”. He therefore chose to maintain 25% rice production, and 75% tomatoes.
“These are products that can be produced in quantity because national standards impose few or no restrictions on phytosanitary products. For producers, it’s more profitable. Manufacturers need volume and above all consistency from year to year. But we cannot give them either with the rice.”.
Powerless in the face of European policies, French rice farmers can only observe the looming crisis
